Which hurricane in 2012 caused extensive damage to the Northeastern United States?

Hurricane Sandy caused extensive damage to the Northeastern United States in 2012. It struck the region in late October after merging with a powerful weather system, producing destructive storm surge, flooding, high winds, and widespread power outages.

Sandy made landfall near Brigantine, New Jersey, on October 29, 2012. Although it was no longer classified as a hurricane at landfall, its enormous wind field and coastal surge devastated parts of New Jersey and New York, including low-lying areas of New York City. The storm also affected Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other states.

Sandy is often called “Superstorm Sandy” because of its complex structure and impacts, but that nickname does not mean it was a special official storm category. Hurricane Irene, one of the wrong options, also affected the Northeast in 2011, but Sandy caused the more iconic and severe regional damage. Its U.S. damage totaled tens of billions of dollars, and more than 150 people died in the Caribbean and United States combined.